A Continuing Investigation into NYC’s Creative Accounting
When I examine New York City’s accounting practices, I feel like I am swimming in raw sewage. In my last blog post, titled “Fiscal Follies: Unveiling NYC Officials’ Creative Accounting Circus,” I investigated the accounting practices of New York City Comptroller Brad Lander and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams. I highlighted their seemingly contradictory behaviors, such as advocating for public transit while accumulating speeding tickets and using taxpayer-funded vehicles. The post detailed questionable expense reports from both officials, including vague travel expenses, unexplained credit card charges, and curious categorizations of expenditures. It pointed out large sums attributed to “N/A Privacy/Security” or simply left blank – because nothing says transparency quite like a blank expense report.
The Price Tag of Political Privilege: $28.9 Million and Counting
In this blog post, we take a close look at an astounding $28.9 million in car service spending awarded to a single vendor, First Class Car Limo, by the NYC Board of Elections from 2014 to 2024. Because apparently, when you’re safeguarding democracy, you need to do it in style. Never mind the city’s 476 subway stations, 325 bus routes, and more than 1,500 miles of bike lanes. Those are clearly for the common folk, not our distinguished election officials.
Public Transit for Thee, Not for Me
One has to wonder why these officials can’t seem to embrace the very public transit system they claim to support. Is it too much to ask for them to hop on a subway or take a bus like the rest of us? Perhaps they fear rubbing shoulders with the very voters whose interests they’re supposed to serve. Or maybe they’re allergic to MetroCards.
The Mystery of the Blank Check: A 104,000% Spending Surge
A glaring red flag is the inexplicable 104,000% surge in car service expenditures marked simply as “(blank)” – from $74 in 2019 to $77,318 in 2023. How did they spend the money? On joy rides? Secret missions to evaluate voting machines in the Hamptons? Perhaps they’re conducting mobile democracy seminars from the backseat of luxury sedans. At least they’re consistent in their commitment to keeping us in the dark.
The Watchdog Who Didn’t Bark: Comptroller’s Office Fails Again
This exemplifies the consequences of electing a Comptroller like Brad Lander, who either lacks basic accounting knowledge or views the office merely as a steppingstone to higher office. It’s the equivalent of putting a vegetarian in charge of a steakhouse – sure, they might understand the concept of food, but do they really grasp the essence of what they’re overseeing? It’s almost as if they believe they’re above the very systems they’re supposed to be improving, floating above the masses in their taxpayer-funded chariots.
Conclusion: Time for Real Accountability
As taxpayers, we demand answers. It’s high time for transparency and accountability in how our money is being spent. We deserve better than this fiscal theater where expenses vanish into thin air and car services cost more than some people’s annual salary. But hey, at least someone’s getting a first-class ride on our dime.
Written by Sam Antar
© 2024 Sam Antar. All rights reserved.